Martin Luther on Psalms 120:7

Verse. 7. I seeke peace, & when I speake thereof, they are bent to warre.

This is the testimonie of my conscience that I loue peare and seke after it. Wherof then commeth all this trouble? all this deadly warre? of me, I graunt, but not by my default. For if I would suffer these disturbers and haters of all godly peace and concord, to say and to doe what they list, then would they not so rage, then woulde they not seeke my hurt as they doe, then would they liue in peace. But how can we hide those thinges that we haue seene, that we haue heard, & that we are commaunded to speake and declare, not in our chambers, but on the house toppes? For Christ saith: God and preach the Gospel to all creatures. And againe: No man hideth a light vnder a bushel. This is the cause that the word is in our mouth as a burning cole. which can not be kept in, but compelleth vs to open our mouthes. Hereof then come all these troubles, because they take away the commaundement of God, & yet would haue vs to holde our peace. And here we see it come to passe that Christ saith in the Gospell: Luke. 11. when a strong man kepeth the house all things are in peace, but when a stronger then he cometh, then troubles arise.

This is then our consolation, that what troubles soeuer doe arise, we rest vpon the testimony of our owne conscience that we do nothing else but speake and declare that we are commaunded. It is not our life therfore which they accuse, but our doctrine abideth the blame: which is not ours but Christes. Wherefore let vs not only contemne all peace and concord, but let heauen and earth also perish, rather then the doctrine of Christ or ye glory of his kingdom should be diminished or blemished in any point. The daūger whereof they see not or doe litle regard, which make so great a matter of the losse of that peace and tranquillity, which hath bene and yet is seene in the kingdom of Antichrist. Notwith standing let vs with all our power amplifie and set forth the glorie of our God and the frutes that come of the true preaching of the gospel, and let vs contemne all such sclaunders, which these Epicures do most maliciously and spitefully heap vpon vs, commending nothing else but that peace & tranquillity wherewith the deuill hath rocked them a slepe in all damnable security: wherby we see what horrible impietie reigneth in the papacie. There is not one word purely taught concerning sinne, grace, the merite of Christ, faith, the exercises of workes, concerning magistrates, and other degrees and kindes of life. All thinges are miserablie corrupted with pestilent gloses and expositions. Moreouer, what prophanation and selling of Masses was there? what deceite and robbery by pardons, purgatory, with such other abominations deuised only for vauntage and gayne? When I looke into the kingdome of the Pope as it was before we preached the Gospell, it seemeth to me that of verie purpose men were cast vnto Satan and eternall damnation by false teachers and ministers of iniquitie.

Now consider whether it were not better with trouble to kepe and enioy the word of God, then with losse of the word, to liue in peace and tranquillity, though it were neuer so heauenly a peace. As for me I woulde not desire to liue in paradise without ye word: and with the word to liue in hell it is an easie matter, like as in this world we liue as it were in hell, and comfort our selues only with hope which the word of God sheweth vnto vs, and with this hope we ouercome all kindes of troubles & crosses. Let vs therefore lay sure holde on this consolation which the holy Ghost here setteth forth vnto vs: whereof also all they haue great neede, that teach the word of trueth, namely that they are not the cause of offence, trouble and sedition. There must needes be offences: there must needes be Lucians, Epicures, contemners and scorners of religion, troublers of the peace and quietnes of the Church, but blessed are they which are not ye cause of these euills, but are preachers of peace, and seeke by all godly meanes, peace and christian vnitie. In the number of whom, by Gods speciall grace we are at this day, howe soeuer the world thinketh of vs, and we will pray vnto God that for Christes sake, he will so keepe vs euen to the vttermost breath.

Thus are the enemies of God and his word paynted out by Dauid in this Psalme, and also the true state of the Church, teaching vs thereby that we shoulde arme our selues against these daungers, and giue thankes vnto God for this great consolation, that whatsoeuer tumultes and troubles arise in the Church, he doth not impute the same vnto them that teach the word, but vnto the word it selfe, which is not ours but Christes, wherewith we may comfort our selues whatsoeuer followeth of the true preaching of the Gospell. Let them stoppe their mouthes and kepe silence that so greatly commend peace: but we wil speake and shew forth the wonderous workes of the Lord with boldnes, and will not be disobediēt in our vocation. If euil tongues be walking and troubles arise, we will with Dauid fight against them by prayer, commending to God the cause of his poore Church, wherein he hath promised to kepe & maintaine his word: who also shall burne & consume all wicked [illegible: 1 letter]ongnes with ye same fire of his heauy indignation, wherwith they thinke the church of God shalbe destroied.